The summer season is underway and Americans are heading outside, flocking to parades and picnics and pools to enjoy some fun in the sun alongside family and friends. The American Humane Association, the country’s first national humane organization, wants to remind pet owners that leaving animal companions in hot cars can be lethal. 

Even when it’s a comfortable 70 degrees outside, the temperature inside a parked car can climb to 90 degrees in just 10 minutes and up to 110 degrees in less than hour, exposing our furry friends to serious risks of discomfort, illness, and even death. Responsible animal lovers can also do their part to help other pets in danger: Concerned observers who see a distressed dog inside a parked car on a warm day should immediately call local animal control or law enforcement for help. 

To keep your pets safe, just remember: Hot dogs belong on grills, not in parked cars. 

Robin Ganzert

President and CEO

American Humane Association

Washington, D.C.